No discussion on leadership would be complete without somefocus on the characteristics of leaders, and we cannot do all eight justice inone short read, so today we’ll focus on two: Enthusiasm and optimism. Bothmagnetic qualities draw others to us and when we demonstrate these behaviors,we become leaders.

Enthusiasm

            When you have a vision, whether it be a sales promo, a menu or an activity, someone must breathe into the gift of life. Just putting it out there seldom garners the attention or effect we desired. Exercise personal magnetism in the process, and  a whole different outcome ensues. Certain actions are known to electrify others. If these behaviors are things you already do, great. If not, adopt them.

• Be active. Wear out your shoes, not your trousers. Leaders stand up when they could sit down. They move when others stand still. Move around and eyes will follow.
• Speak with your tone going up at the end of the sentence to keep listeners expectant. Not all the time--that gets annoying, but use this when you want to drop a bombshell.
• Be brisk. Set a pace that keeps everyone on their toes. Quit before you bore.
• Be cheerful. Practice cheerfulness whether you feel like it or not. There’s an old saying: A sad saint never converted a happy sinner.” Let's adapt that to business: A sad shopper buys nothing. Energize your shoppers with your enthusiasm.
• Be direct. Speak directly to people. Look them in the eye. Never address the floor or the ceiling. That’s not where the people are.

Albert Sweitzter once said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it’s the only thing.” That’s especially true when it comes to enthusiasm. Every group needs a cheerleader. People are attracted to an upbeat personality, and your enthusiastic spirit brings out the same in others. If you would grow your business, begin with filling it with life.

Optimism

            There isa way to surmount every obstacle. Never languish at the end of a blindalley—start tunneling! A leader looks beyond the obstacle to the solution ofthe problem at hand.

            Anobstacle is a detour, not the end of the road. Failure is a challenge to newheights of accomplishment. Let me promise you this: Every task, everyleadership responsibility will bring a moment when opposition raises its uglyhead. Think of it as an eternal principle of opposition in all things. Forevery force there is an equal and positive reaction. Do good, and prepare tobatten down the hatches, because storm weather is in your future. If you are aleader, you’re a person who dreams up solutions.

                        Howdo you express optimism? Accentuate the positive. When the minions express theobvious negative, give three less obvious positives. Yes, it’s that easy.

                        It’strue. Bury a person in the snows of Valley Forge and a George Washington emergesfrom the trial of faith. Raise someone in poverty and an Abraham Lincolnemerges to lead the fight for freedom. Strike someone down with polio and hebecomes Franklin Delano Roosevelt, leading a nation in World War II. Burn himso severely doctors say he’ll never walk again, and a champion like GlennCunningham emerges from the forge to set a world record in 1934. Label someonea slow learner and retarded, write him off as uneducable, and get ready for thetheory of relativity.

            A studyof three hundred highly successful people revealed that 25% suffered from apersonal handicap such as blindness, deafness, or crippled limbs. 75% eithercame from poverty or broken homes. Why did these people achieve greatness whenso many didn’t? They turned stumbling blocks into steppingstones. Anyone can bepositive

            Be enthusiastic and be optimistic. See what a difference it makes within your business. Next week we’ll look at two or three more characteristics of leaders. Stay tuned for Part II.